Chain-fastener



C. F. HOLYBEE.

CHAIN FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED ran. 19. 1921.

1,398,099. Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

I I I l llllllll V I INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. HOLYBEE, OF HOTCHKISS, COLORADO.

CHAIN-FASTENER.

Application filed February 19, 1921.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. HoLYsnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hotchkiss, in the county of Delta and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chain-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification. reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in chain fasteners and more particularly to a chain fastener adapted to connect the ends of the traction chains employed upon automobile wheels.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character whereby the ends of the chains may be simultaneously secured together and the chain tightened.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character winch is automatically locked when the sections are moved to the closed position and 111 which the strain imparted to the fastener by the chain tends to hold the fastener in closed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character so constructed that a tool may be readily inserted to separate the sections of the fastener to permlt separation of the ends of the chain,

Other objects and advantagesof the 1nvention will become apparent throughout the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration 1s shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout,

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a fastening member constructed in accordance with my invention, the sections of the memher being in the open posltion,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, the sections and member being in the closed posit1on,

Fig. 3 is a plan view with the sections in the open position, and

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the same in the closed position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a main attaching member longitudinally bifurcated, as at 11, to form spaced arms 12 which receive between the extremities thereof and have pivotally connected thereto, as at 13, a complementary fastening member 14.

The arms 12 of the member 10 are pro- Speciflcation of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

Serial No. 446,276.

vided with pairs of alined slots 15 opening through one edge thereof. As will be seen by an inspection of the drawings, these slots are inclined toward that end of the arms to which the complementary fastening member 14: is pivotally connected, and it will furthermore be noted that the convex walls of the slots have their inner ends undercut as indicated at 15. The complementary member has formed therein similar slots 16, the slots of the complementary member being arcuately curved and inclined in a direction away from the pivotal connection. These slots 16 are likewise undercut at the inner ends of the convex walls thereof, as at 16 It will be noted that the slots 16 open through the edge of the arms 12 through which the slots 15 open, so that the solid portions of the arms 12 and member 14. combine with the slots when the members are in the folded position to form substantially circular openings.

The arms 12 have formed therein alined openings 17 which coact with an opening 18 formed in the member 14 to receive a securing means S whereby the arms may be held in the folded position. The free end of the member 14 is flattened and widened, as indicated at 19, and the extremity of this flattened and widened portion 19 is curved to form a spring tongue 20. The free end of the member 10 or that portion thereof which connects the arms 12 is reduced in thickness as at 20 and has the end thereof formed with a cam face adapted to coact with the spring tongue 20 of the member 14 to hold the members 10 and 14 in the folded position. The reduced portion 21 of the member 10 has formed therein a transverse recess 23 which combines with the portion 19 of the member 14 to form a slot or opening 24 in which a tool may be inserted to separate the sections.

In the use of my device the member 10 is secured to one end of the chain C, the member 10 being provided at its free end with projecting portions 25 about which the arms of the end link L of the chain C may be secured. To the opposite end of the chain I preferably apply a link 26 of considerable length and having a cross bar 27 of sufficient width to receive between the arms of the link 26, the member 10. When it is desired tosecure together the ends of the chain, the cross bar 27 of the link 26 is engaged in one of the notches 16 of the member 14:. The

member 14 is then rotated about its pivotal engagement with the notch, the cross bar 27 V will be engaged with the undercut portion 16 of the notch and will accordingly be held againstslipping. As the rotation of the member 14: continues and the strain correspondingly increases, the inclined face of the hook comes into play. lVhen the members are fully seated, the cross bar 27 will lie within the notch'16 and the corresponding notches 15 of the arms 12. It is pointed out that at this time the chain will be under considerable strain and will accordingly tend to seat in the undercut portions 15 of the notches 15. At the same time the cross bar engages against the inclined convex face of the notch 16 with which it is engaged and accordingly the strain of the chain will tend to prevent separation of the members 10 and 14. Vhen the chain is to be disconnected a tool may be inserted in the opening 24, a screwdriver forexample, and the sections pried apart; During this operation the points or bills 16 formed by the notches 16 upon the member 14 extend beyond the wall of the notches 15 with which they coact in such a manner that they engage the cross bar 27 and cause'the same to be withdrawn from the notches 15 cf the member 10. This coaction is achieved by reason of the fact that the walls of the slots 16 are substanfastening of the chain and it will likewise be obvious that the construction as hereinabove set forth'is capable of some change in modification without materially departing from the spirit of my invention. I accord- 'ingly do not limit myself to the specific structure hereinabove set forth except as hereinafter claimed. Y

What I claim is:

1. A fastener comprising a pair of members pivotally connected at one end and each provided with slots opening through what are opposing edges of the members when the members are in closed relation, the slots of said members being arcuately curved and oppositely inclined, the walls of the slots of one'of said members being substantially parallel, the free end of one of said members being provided with a cam face and a spring tongue carried by the free end of the other of the members and coacting with said cam face to hold the members in closed position. 7

'2. A fastener comprisinga' pair of members pivotally connected at one end and each provided with slots opening through what are opposing edges of the members when the members are in closed relation, the slots of said members being arcuately curved and oppositely inclined, the walls ofthe slots of one of said members being substantially parallel, the free end of saidmembers being provided with :coacting faces, said faces being engaged when the members are in closed relation, one of said membersbeing provided in its coacting face with a transverse recess permitting the insertion of a tool between the members to separate the Same when the members are in closed position. 7

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

CHARLES 1F. HOLYBEE. 

